April 5, 2008, San Diego, California, USA_VICTOR MARRERO and his two kids STEVEN, 6, and VICTORIA, 4, explore a wooded area near the San Diego River in Mission Trails Regional Park on a Saturday afternoon. They live in the Serra Mesa area of San Diego_Credit: photo by Charlie Neuman, San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press. copyright 2008 San Diego Union-Tribune

April 5, 2008, San Diego, California, USA_VICTOR MARRERO and his two kids STEVEN, 6, and VICTORIA, 4, explore a wooded area near the San Diego River in Mission Trails Regional Park on a Saturday afternoon. They live in the Serra Mesa area of San Diego_Credit: photo by Charlie Neuman, San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press. copyright 2008 San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego, CA 8/9/2011_Civita, a new project by Shea Homes in Mission Valley will feature a mix of condos and apartments. |Carpenter John Pasquarella works on a ladder to help frame a wall in a condominium at Civita.| John Gastaldo/Union-Tribune Mandatory Credit: JOHN GASTALDO/The San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press

San Diego, CA 8/9/2011_Civita, a new project by Shea Homes in Mission Valley will feature a mix of condos and apartments. |Carpenter John Pasquarella works on a ladder to help frame a wall in a condominium at Civita.| John Gastaldo/Union-Tribune Mandatory Credit: JOHN GASTALDO/The San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press

San Diegans’ vision of the next 50 to 100 years began to take shape Friday, as four panels involved in crafting a new road map pored over the results of a 10-week survey of public opinion about the choices ahead.

“We want to keep engaging the community and keep updating (the vision),” said Bill Geppert, chairman of the San Diego Foundation’s $2 million, two-year effort titled “Our Greater San Diego Vision.”

One update that appears inevitable, as about 100 members of the four task forces debated, is San Diego’s attitude toward the Mexican border, binational culture and cross-border commerce.

Asked to rank the importance of the region’s Spanish and Mexican heritage and “binational arts culture and experiences,” only 9 percent felt that was the most important priority when it comes to culture and community. The same low percentage liked the idea of creating a “cross-border mega-region” as part of economic development. And just 17 percent believed in preparing students for a global economy.

“This is a snapshot of where we are in history,” said José Aponte, director of the county library system and a co-chairman of the culture task force. “This should not come as a surprise to us. This is the most xenophobia we have seen in our lifetimes.”

Robert Grow, a consultant on the vision project, interpreted the cool reception to cross-border relations as a reflection of current tensions stemming from Mexico’s fight against organized crime.

Another figure that came as a surprise to many of the panelists: Only 37 percent believe the top regional priority should be to “keep my community as it is.”

The top priority, garnering 79 percent, is conserving water. It was marked as the first or second choice in a scientific poll of 1,200 residents.

About 28,000 people — or 80 percent — who participated in an online “choosing exercise” ranked this issue tops as well.

“Most people are OK with change and expect it,” said John Fregonese, an Oregon-based consultant helping with the vision effort, “and they know they have to work on it.”

The foundation plans a meeting of its regional vision council Wednesday and a series of presentations to community organizations and business groups through April. A draft report will be circulated in May and June and the final document will be released in July. Then the recently announced Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement will take up the cause by conducting continual research and holding forums to connect the vision with current events, and revise it as needed.

That’s where the current attitude toward border issues comes in.

“The border is not going to make a priority focus area at this point,” Geppert said. “The community is saying we’re not going to go there. I would hope at some point in the future, given its proximity … we’ll be able to get there. That’s an example of one (issue) we would come back to.”